Need help with Dragon Tactics
- Thread starter Grant_Stoom
- Start date
KingOfChaos
First Post
You could also do something my DM did once. I call it the 'roll over attack' and involves the dragon rolling over its enemies, using its weight to crush them flat. It's good when the dragon is fighting a large number of foes 
Endur
First Post
That's kind of unfair. Not every DM is a member of BADD (Bothered about Disposable Dragons).
Granted, some Dragons have smarter tactics than others.
Mord's is not an option for most Great Wrym Red Dragons. Its an 9th level spell (of which a Great Wyrm can only know 2) and it destroys the Dragon's Hoard. A mean GM might select Mord's, but a greedy Dragon is unlikely to.
Better 9th level spells than Mord's Disjoin include: Gate, Implosion, Miracle, Elemental Swarm, Imprisonment, Dominate Monster, PWK, Wail of the Banshee, Shape Change, Time Stop, and Wish. Even Freedom and True Res are better than Mord's Disjoin under some circumstances.
The Dragon obviously had Shape Change from the story. Not sure what the other 9th level spell was.
Granted, some Dragons have smarter tactics than others.
Mord's is not an option for most Great Wrym Red Dragons. Its an 9th level spell (of which a Great Wyrm can only know 2) and it destroys the Dragon's Hoard. A mean GM might select Mord's, but a greedy Dragon is unlikely to.
Better 9th level spells than Mord's Disjoin include: Gate, Implosion, Miracle, Elemental Swarm, Imprisonment, Dominate Monster, PWK, Wail of the Banshee, Shape Change, Time Stop, and Wish. Even Freedom and True Res are better than Mord's Disjoin under some circumstances.
The Dragon obviously had Shape Change from the story. Not sure what the other 9th level spell was.
Plane Sailing said:
MerakSpielman
First Post
It probably didn't have as many levels of sorcerer as the rumors said. After all, who do you think started the rumors? 
Besides, TPKs are no fun.
Besides, TPKs are no fun.
Mephistopheles
First Post
You said this great red wyrm was the toughest dragon in your world. You defeated it in its lair without a single casualty and scooped up its treasure. I expect that your party is now strongly considering great wyrm hunting as a career option?
I think the intelligence and experience of the wyrm were greatly underplayed. You said he knew you were coming and would be prepared. Apart from casting a few buffs and protective spells on himself he didn't seem to be. He just had a few minions lounging around who he apparently didn't bother telling to expect company because you mentioned they were surprised to see you. When the wyrm entered the fray all he did was enter melee and spread his attacks around on multiple opponents from round to round without eliminating any of them. For a creature who had been alive for over a thousand years and presumably had to fend off attacks on his lair in the past his approach to combat seemed to be pretty haphazard and more reactive than proactive.
If I were playing in your group I suppose I'd be happy to have gotten away with doing what you did as easily as you did. However, I think I'd also be having some doubts about the verisimilitude of the world my character was living in when something that should have been almost impossible turned out to be relatively easy.
I think the intelligence and experience of the wyrm were greatly underplayed. You said he knew you were coming and would be prepared. Apart from casting a few buffs and protective spells on himself he didn't seem to be. He just had a few minions lounging around who he apparently didn't bother telling to expect company because you mentioned they were surprised to see you. When the wyrm entered the fray all he did was enter melee and spread his attacks around on multiple opponents from round to round without eliminating any of them. For a creature who had been alive for over a thousand years and presumably had to fend off attacks on his lair in the past his approach to combat seemed to be pretty haphazard and more reactive than proactive.
If I were playing in your group I suppose I'd be happy to have gotten away with doing what you did as easily as you did. However, I think I'd also be having some doubts about the verisimilitude of the world my character was living in when something that should have been almost impossible turned out to be relatively easy.
frankthedm
First Post
pathetic.
A battle given to the players, not won by the players.
A battle given to the players, not won by the players.
Altamont Ravenard
Explorer
Nicely written (and quite funny at times), but I will echo the other commentaries: the dragon was clearly not played to its full capacities.
AR
AR
First off, Great Wyrm Red Dragons have 19 caster levels; for spells, it gets to know 2 9th level, 3 each of 6th through 8th level, 4 each of 3rd through 5th level, 5 each of 1st and 2d level, and 9 cantrips.
Why Timestop or Chain Contingency wasn't one of the 9thlevel spells, I honestly don't know. Why harm wasn't in there (cast it, use a NORMAL attack to discharge it, and add 150hp of damage to the blow ...), I also don't know.
Timestop, Prismatic Walls, and a Dimension Lock or two -- lock you in a killing zone
The dragon met you in an area that, apparently, wasn't PREPARED in such a manner as to give it an advantage. I mean, come on; it took the time to lair in an active VOLCANO ... why was there no lava for it to swim through, or knock you into? Why no boulders and such in nets on the cieling, where it's fiery breath could burn the ropes and logs holding them up, dropping the entire mass on your heads?
Bah.
Instead of Fire Giants, frankly, it should have had Iron Golems. Waft a breath attack over them, and it not only damages YOU, it also HEALS the golems!
No offense, but, you should have been lucky to have ONE of your survive, and MAYBE the Dragon was dead. Maybe.
Why Timestop or Chain Contingency wasn't one of the 9thlevel spells, I honestly don't know. Why harm wasn't in there (cast it, use a NORMAL attack to discharge it, and add 150hp of damage to the blow ...), I also don't know.
Timestop, Prismatic Walls, and a Dimension Lock or two -- lock you in a killing zone
The dragon met you in an area that, apparently, wasn't PREPARED in such a manner as to give it an advantage. I mean, come on; it took the time to lair in an active VOLCANO ... why was there no lava for it to swim through, or knock you into? Why no boulders and such in nets on the cieling, where it's fiery breath could burn the ropes and logs holding them up, dropping the entire mass on your heads?
Bah.
Instead of Fire Giants, frankly, it should have had Iron Golems. Waft a breath attack over them, and it not only damages YOU, it also HEALS the golems!
No offense, but, you should have been lucky to have ONE of your survive, and MAYBE the Dragon was dead. Maybe.
Similar Threads
Recent & Upcoming Releases
-
June 16 2026 -
June 16 2026 -
September 16 2026 
Arcana Unleashed(Dungeons & Dragons)
Rulebook featuring "high magic" options, including a host of new spells.
Replies (181) -
September 16 2026 -
October 1 2026 -
October 6 2026 -
January 1 2027
